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Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 5-3 Fritz* At 15-all, Fritz wafts wide \u2013 desolately so \u2013 and a backhand raises two match points for Alcaraz who, sent out wide by the serve, returns superbly, sticks in the point \u2026 and nets. Oh, and then a backhand return falls wide, raising deuce, so of course Alcaraz again leaps for a flying, twisting, backwards, backhand overhead that\u2019s also a drop; that is not a misprint. Again, though, Fritz saves match point, grits out the hold, and forces the world no 1 to serve for the match\u2026<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 5-2 Fritz Fritz, you have to think, knows. It took him a while but Alcaraz is now playing like himself and we\u2019re back to what we said earlier: the way he makes the impossible inevitable is so ludicrous it feels fixed. He holds to 30 and is a game away; I feel vomitous on Fritz\u2019s behalf because he\u2019s given this the world, but elated at how Alcaraz has come back because he is the world.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 4-2 Fritz* Yeah, losing that second set in that manner has sapped Fritz, who overhits a forehand, then doubles, then overhits a backhand, and this is what can happen against genius: you can\u2019t play well enough for long enough to beat them when you need to play the best you ever have to get close. And though he saves the first break point, Alcaraz flows a backhand down the line to forge in front, and how often do we say this: the best players are the best players because of how their floor is, not how high their ceiling is.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 3-2 Fritz A leaping, spinning backhand overhead makes 15-0 and a carve to the corner is good enough for 30. Then, at 40-0, Alcaraz misses a volley, overhits a forehand next point, and suddenly a game that looked over very much is not, Fritz finding a bit more gas to assault a forehand \u2026 only to net thereafter.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 2-2 Fritz*A forehand winner and a drop take Alcaraz to 30-all; he\u2019ll be naused in the extreme not to have climbed into a second serve, before overhitting a forehand. But he\u2019s the better player now, hitting a seam, and consecutive backhands, spitting and hissing cross court, take us to deuce \u2026 whereupon Fritz closes out. He\u2019s not playing as aggressively now \u2013 maybe he can\u2019t \u2013 but between games, he\u2019s told by his box to \u201cKeep going after him\u201d; wise words, easier said than done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.40 EST<\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 2-1 Fritz A backhand down the line catches the top of the net \u2026 and is just wide; 15-0, but that was so close and Fritz then levels the game, his strength returning. But Alcaraz soon makes 40-15 and a serve out wide secures the hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 1-1 Fritz* Yeah, Fritz has slowed; he doesn\u2019t bother chasing when Alcaraz swishes a winner down the line, but he does hold to 15 and is in the set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 1-0 Fritz Alcaraz opens set three with a forehand winner, on the run and down the line, then Fritz overhits, and I wonder if we\u2019re watching a physical manifestation of his mental anguish. The hold is secured to love and, for the first time, the American looks tired; this next game is a biggun, and I\u2019d not be surprised if we see a break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.28 EST<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz takes the second set against Taylor Fritz 7-5<\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 7-5 Fritz* Even though he\u2019s a bit off it today, that Alcaraz is wearing the performance of Fritz\u2019s life says plenty about his own brilliance. And he\u2019ll be sensing opportunity when a forehand butchered long gives him 0-15, a streaky drop, off the net cord, making 0-30, the first time in the match Alcaraz has got to here. Oh, and another Fritz error donates three set points, the first saved in typically domineering style and the second en route \u2026 until the world no 1 digs out a tremendous forehand pass to level the match! I guess it\u2019s not possible to play as well as Fritz was for an entire match, but he\u2019ll be feeling very poorly to have slipped when he did. Can he recover? We shall see, as this match gets the deciding set it and we deserve. We cannot wait, and the good news is we don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz levels up the match! Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.27 EST<\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 6-5 Fritz At 30-0, yet another amazing point, Fritz working so hard to stick in it but responding to every shot that nearly ends it with one of his own that asks questions \u2026 until he slips. From there, Alcaraz serves out, and we\u2019re a hold away from another beaker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 5-5 Fritz* Serving to stay in the set, Fritz begins with a big first delivery then an ace, and though he errs thereafter, a service winner and another dominant point secure the hold, making a nonsense of any pressure he was under with the set on the line. He remains the better player; Alcaraz hasn\u2019t found a way of neutralising him, forced to rely on errors and genius for his points.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 5-4 Fritz Fritz sends Alcaraz to hither and yon, tickling a volley across the face of the net that\u2019s just good enough for 0-15. But he\u2019s soon admonishing himself for missing a forehand, then he nets another, and a winner spanked past him means 40-15; he draws nearer with a winner hit corner to corner \u2026 and oh my days, a winner wafted backhand down the line, on the retreat, takes us to deuce. Again, I\u2019ve not seen Fritz play like this, ever, he marches to net to stick away a forehand for advantage, and even though he picks out Alcaraz, the response, manufactured, conjured, floatily cross-court, is miraculous, and from there, the hold is secured. Tennis<\/a>, and sport, don\u2019t get much better than this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 4-4 Fritz* A fine forehand gives Alcaraz 15-all, then Fritz escapes with a mishit only to net a backhand; is he tiring? Well, he\u2019s 10\/10 of first-serve points won and two more give him game point, but there\u2019s nothing he can do about the top-spinning forehand to corner that schleps him to deuce. And have a look! Sent out of court to return, Alcaraz is barely on the screen when he scythes a forehand return winner to raise advantage; Fritz quickly confiscates it from him, earns his own game point, dominates the next rally, and looks to put away the desperate lob sent back at him \u2026 but it\u2019s too high, he can\u2019t get it, and back to deuce we go. From there, though, the hold is secured, and this feels like we\u2019re on a roller-coaster, cranking up a slope.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 4-3 Fritz Neither Tim nor Laura have seen Fritz play this well, but now it\u2019s Alcaraz with the love hold, as set two builds to crescendo.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.00 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 3-3 Fritz* A big first serve followed by an ace make 30-0, a service winner givES 40, and an ace down the T secures a hold in under a minute, following the 14-minuter to which he just subjected Alcaraz. Fritz is playing like the big dog here, and I can\u2019t even remember the last time anyone did that to this opponent.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 3-2 Fritz Two mistakes from Alcaraz, who can\u2019t get himself relaxed and in flow, hand Fritz 0-30; a forehand winner and overhit forehand \u2013 just! \u2013 one from each player, bring us to 30-all. And, though the world no 1 raises game point, a netted drop means deuce and, when Fritz sticks in the rally, Alcaraz drops a half-volley short, he crunches consecutive forehands and at advantage, has a chance to break. Again, the return is excellent, likewise the drop-retrieval, and what a point this is, both players doing everything right \u2026 but it\u2019s the younger man who lasts longer, putting away a volley, the 19th stroke of the exchange, to restore deuce. So Alcaraz makes advantage, then Fritz plays a shot so brilliantly unusual I\u2019m not even sure what it is and they don\u2019t show us it again, but it hits the line, then a forehand falls long and he\u2019s again forced to save game point. This game now feels pivotal and, when Fritz once more responds well to a drop, picking out the corner, Alcaraz somehow hooks a forehand winner cross-court from around his arse, and I don\u2019t even know what to tell you: these boys are unbelievable. Again, though, Fritz restores deuce, makes advantage thereafter \u2026 and watches an an ace screeches and hisses across him, leaving scorch marks in the air; this is sensational behaviour from both players. I wonder if they\u2019re enjoying the contest or if the stress and exhaustion are too much; for Fritz, especially, there\u2019s a lot riding on him getting it done, and he\u2019ll be relieved when a double burns another Alcaraz advantage without the expenditure of effort then, when we again go advantage Alcaraz, deuce, an ace down the T and a long return secure the hold. The world no 1 raises arms skywards in thanksgiving and supplication \u2013 to greet a mere hold \u2013 and I can\u2019t overstate what a trip this match is. I\u2019ve never seen Fritz so confident, prepared and aggressive.<\/p>\n Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.01 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 2-2 Fritz* Fritz knew he was at it during the Musetti match \u2013 how could he not? \u2013 and yet another backhand winner down the line makes 30-0. Pre-match, I wondered if he\u2019d hit down the middle to deny angle, but I couldn\u2019t have been wronger: he\u2019s looking to move Alcaraz about and take control of points. A hold to 15 is secured with an ace, and this is pretty much perfect from Fritz, who is nailing all his skills while holding his nerve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 2-1 Fritz The standard has dipped a bit, so too the drama, but Alcaraz finds a high-kicking ace for 40-15, then spirits a forehand winner cross-court, after Fritz sends him to the corner, to regain his advantage in the set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 1-1 Fritz* Alcaraz retreats to receive, then steps in to seize control of the rally with a forehand to the corner, only to overhit next point;15-all. A pair of forehands, one to each corner, make 30-15, and an ace closes out the game to 30.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz (2)6-7 1-0 Fritz Alcaraz spent much of that set chutering, but he\u2019ll know if he plays well, he\u2019ll probably win from here, and that Fritz will be expecting, almost fearing an improvement. He makes 30-0 for the first time in the match, an ace down the middle raises game point, and an overhit backhand secures a hold to 15. Better from the world no 1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Taylor Fritz wins the first set against Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(2)<\/p>\n Alcaraz (2)6-7 Fritz Fritz smites an ace down the T \u2026 then another! Thus endeth what might be the best set of his career, and can he maintain his level? He\u2019s absolutely zoned, hitting his spots on serve and, just as importantly, on return, his length impeccable, while he\u2019s also starting to read Alcaraz\u2019s drops. I\u2019m buzzing to see what happens next.<\/p>\n Taylor Fritz celebrates winning the first set tie-break. Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.44 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 6-6 Fritz (2-5) Now then. Alcaraz unnecessarily nets a backhand and Fritz has two serves to clinch the set!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 6-6 Fritz (1-4) Up 1-0, Fritz has a look at a second serve and goes down the line on backhand return \u2026 but he\u2019s wide. No matter: he anticipates a drop, runs it down, belts to the corner, and though Alcaraz forces him to hit another ball, he makes light of a taxing putaway to secure the first mini-break, consolidated for 4-1 when the Spaniard, who isn\u2019t loving this, opens the space for a backhand winner down the line, only to overhit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.21 EST<\/p>\n *Alcaraz 6-6 Fritz Another second serve, another decent return, and a tame forehand wafted long donates Fritz his fifth 0-15 of the set. Alcaraz, though, powers back, a service winner making 30-15 and a forehand winner taking him to within a point of a tiebreak, secured to 30. I\u2019ve not a clue what\u2019s going to happen in the breaker, but I\u2019m certain it\u2019ll be intense.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 5-6 Fritz* Fritz has been the better player in this set and he dismissively wallops an overhead for 30-0, closes out the love hold, and again, Alcaraz must serve to stay in the set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 5-5 Fritz For the fourth time in five goes, Fritz makes 0-15 \u2026 only to overhit a backhand, marginally. A serve out wide then makes 30-15, but a tremendous forehand, down the line to the corner, is backed up with a sliced volley, and the American is two points away from the set. Alcaraz, though, nails a mahoosive serve then clatters a backhand into the opposite corner for 40-30 \u2026 only to stray long on the backhand and hand over deuce. He\u2019s struggling a bit on second serve, just 6\/18 points won, and he offers Fritz a look at another \u2026 making advantage with a backhand ushered down the line. And though he then nets a drop, an ace down the T is followed by another biggun, a backhand into the net securing his hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.11 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 4-5 Fritz* A big return, Alcaraz charges in behind it \u2026 and doesn\u2019t have to play a volley; 0-15. For al the good it does him, a service-winner making 40-15 \u2026 but on the run, he coaxes a backhand winner down the line to give himself a sniff, only for Fritz to quickly secure the hold. The Spaniard must now serve to stay in the best set (of tennis) I\u2019ve seen in I don\u2019t even know how long.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 4-4 Fritz A terrific return on to the line hauls Fritz into the first rally and though Alcaraz fights back, this time his drop plops wide, then a hooked forehand is also wide; 0-30. But of course it\u2019s soon 30-all, a drop and overhead pat doing the business \u2026 only for Fritz to unload the suitcase at a forehand, booming it flat and to the corner \u2026 too good! Another break point, another good return \u2026 only for an overhit forehand to ruin it and take us to deuce. Fritz, though, keeps the head, leaping into a backhand return and guiding the ball inside-out \u2026 and into the corner! Naturally, Alcaraz quickly restores deuce, then makes advantage via ace, before unleashing a monstrous serve, backed up with a swing-volley. He\u2019s now saved six break points, but Fritz is giving him all he can handle.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 3-4 Fritz* A relatively quiet game, Fritz holding to 15, and both men are settled into comfortable holds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 3-3 Fritz Alcaraz spends the first bit of the sit-down complaining to the umpire about something; Fritz will love to see it. And he\u2019ll also love to see a forehand hit the net when behind in the first point, but Alcaraz is quickly in to restore parity and an error gives him 30-15. A drop-lob combo move follows, the equivalent of of Dhalsim\u2019s slide kick into yoga flame, and a service winner secures the hold.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.56 EST<\/p>\n Alcaraz 2-3 Fritz* I almost feel bad rinsing Fritz\u2019s rig, but he\u2019s driven me to it. But back with the actual tennis, Alcaraz ushers a backhand winner down the line to make 30-all only to fractionally overhit a return, and an ace down the T does the rest. Alcaraz is vexed, and rightly so: how dare he let a game finish in less than 27 minutes.<\/p>\n Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 2-2 Fritz Fritz swipes a forehand long but then, when he anticipates Alcaraz, what should\u2019ve been a clean-up is in fact a tee-up, allowing a backhand winner for 15-all. Then, at 30-15, he reads the drop and next volley, before a loopy forehand hits one corner then a backhand into the opposite one raises break-back point; this is more or less as well as Fritz can play but, offered a look at a second serve, he nets his return with the ball there for him; deuce. Alcaraz, though, goes for too much down the line, donating advantage, we\u2019ve been going nearly half an hour for our three-and-a-bit games \u2026 and Fritz nails a backhand, keeps up the pressure, and secures the break back! This is the best contest I\u2019ve seen, in any sport, for a while.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 2-1 Fritz* One of the many things i love about watching Alcaraz is the intellectual, spiritual challenge of predicting what shot he\u2019s going to play \u2013 it\u2019s almost like playing Tetris, testing the boundaries of geometry. And the pressure tells on Fritz, who\u2019s soon down 15-40 before another drop secures the break; he\u2019s forcing Alcaraz to play brilliantly, if that\u2019s any consolation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n *Alcaraz 1-1 Fritz The last thing Fritz will want is for Alcraraz to rush through an easy hold and he makes 0-15, then attacks a second serve with a backhand down the line, as we suggested he should, for 0-30. And, though Alcaraz halves his arrears, Faritz runs around his forehand to clout down the line, raising two break points; the first disappears with an overhit forehand, the second with a service winner. Up advantage, though, Alcaraz errs, and this is already ridiculously enjoyable, Fritz taking control of the next rally by landing a forehand on to the baseline and seeing it home with backhands down the line to earn a third break point. And this time he looks ready to take it, racing to net when a drop sits up \u2026 but Alcaraz reads him and puts away the volley! The anticipation there was spooky, and there\u2019s something about watching him play that\u2019s almost wrong, stuff that shouldn\u2019t be possible happening with such regularity it feels unreal, or staged. And that\u2019s exactly the next point, a no-look drop, discharged with Fritz expecting a booming cross-court shot, followed up with a perfectly disguised and perfect lob; from there, Alcaraz sees out the hold, and these two games have been of absurdly high standard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz 0-1 Fritz* (denotes server) A forehand clouted wide gives Alcaraz 0-15 \u2026 but that\u2019s nothing a service winner can\u2019t solve. At 30-15, though, a tame forehand into the net puts him under immediate pressure \u2026 but that\u2019s nothing an ace can\u2019t serve. He quickly makes 40-30, too, but a backhand winner sizzles past him cross, and another netted forehand means Alcaraz has advantage. Fritz looks nervous, reflecting how well he knows he\u2019s playing: this is is his time. He saves break point with a forehand winner, but is soon down advantage again, totally dominated in the next rally. Also again, though, he restores deuce, and this time an ace raises game point \u2026 only to be followed by a double. On the one hand, this isn\u2019t the game Fritz had in mind when he opted to serve but, on the other, if he can see out the tension and hold, it\u2019ll fortify him with confidence. Meantime, though, an ace earns another advantage, but again, he can\u2019t see it out; what a start to the match this is. AND HAVE A LOOK! Again up advantage and this tome at the net with a simple putaway there for him, Fritz picks out Alcaraz who hoists a lob, then deals with the tweener sent at him in riposte via volley. That was another terrific exchange, was, restoring deuce, but Fritz again makes his ad, this time punishing down an ace to secure a nine-minute hold. MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fritz has been getting closer to a big breakthrough \u2013 he made last year\u2019s US Open final, beating Alexander Zverev en route, and he gave Alcaraz trouble in the semis at this year\u2019s Wimbledon. And though he\u2019s yet to beat one of the greats on the big occasion, he\u2019ll feel he\u2019s in good enough for so to do. He has the balls and is preparing to serve. Ready \u2026 play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Out comes Fritz, followed by Alcaraz. The crowds so far have been great, and who doesn\u2019t want to spend a weekday afternoon enjoying genius?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty fast,\u201d Fritz said of the court after his first match, also noting that there\u2019s some altitude, so the ball flies through the air quicker, aspects which help his flat backhand. If he hits it cross-court, he might find it coming back even harder, but if he can sent it down the line, it might work well for him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n If Alcaraz wins today, he\u2019ll be one win against Musetti away from ending the year as world no 1. If he loses, a win in his final match will leave Sinner needing him to lose the semi, while winning the title as an undefeated champion; if loses both matches, Sinner will merely need to lift the trophy. Which would be pretty likely, given every tournament both have entered this season, one has won.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The problem Fritz has is he too has weaknesses. I\u2019d expect Alcaraz to target his backhand while putting him on the bike, moving him side to side and into the net so he can\u2019t plant feet and thwack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So how does Fritz win today? Well, patience is important: Alcaraz isn\u2019t metronomic like Sinner, and loses his serve more often; Fritz needn\u2019t force things, but when the opportunities arise, he has to be ready. Usually, he\u2019d want to shorten points, but in this one he may hope to lengthen them, hitting full and straight to deny angles and force Alcaraz to seek winners.<\/p>\n Otherwise, he has to attack the serve \u2013 first and second \u2013 and the backhand, then hope for an off-day.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz leads Fritz 4-1 in the head-to-head \u2026 but Fritz\u2019s one win came not that long ago, in September, and it was also on an indoor hard court. I guess we might say it came two weeks after the US Open final, so chances are, its champion has been more focused, but if helps convince Fritz he can win this afternoon, it doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n It\u2019s not easy being a tenniser. To be fit enough to chase like mad for five hours, delivering skills that demand precision and power, while living life on the road away from family and friends, is a confronting existence.<\/p>\n The reward, though, for those at the top, is occasions such as this \u2013 and yet, for Taylor Fritz, they come freighted with frustration: he\u2019s close to the top of the game, so close he can taste the glory, and yet it looks unlikely ever to be his. He played very nicely indeed in beating Lorenzo Musetti on Sunday, but would that level be enough to see off Carlos Alcaraz<\/a>? Probably not.<\/p>\n And yet. Like Felix Auger-Aliassime last evening, if he serves well, he can stick in sets, and if he can stick in sets, he can reduce them to a tiebreak point here and there, and if he can reduce them to a tiebreak point here and there, if he produces his best tennis during them, or if Alcaraz errs, that\u2019s a lot of ifs, but he can get this done. Perhaps.<\/p>\n Either way, though, it\u2019s going to be a lot of fun watching him try, just as it\u2019s always a lot of fun watching Alcaraz watching people try. And if there\u2019s a better way of spending a Tuesday afternoon, I\u2019m yet to discover it.<\/p>\n Play: 1pm GMT<\/p>\n